Chapter 125 – Quills, Ink & Pens

Thompson & French’s sign sways, creaking in the April winds, alerting Hope Street’s pedestrians to its presence. Our office facade provides essential display cases for distinguished work and awards, which regularly exemplifies our exceptional exhibits. Families usually stop to explain, point, teach and regale stories of the places identified on our maps.

I stride into the office, where my Office Secretary perches at the reception desk, “Good Morning, Anne, I hope you had a fine weekend.”

“Indeed. Here is your mail and Glasgow Herald, and I cleared your diary today, as requested.”, said Anne.

“Thank you; today is going to be glorious.” Anne nods and continues to scribe the rest of my week’s events into the black leather-bound office diary.

Writing implements have evolved since John Mitchell, an English Inventor from Birmingham, innovated the steel pen point in 1828, despatching the quill into a bygone era. One day, inkpots, which are often tipped across the desk, destroying a vast amount of Cartographer’s work, will be condemned to a similar fate.

In my office, I stand up, pull the blinds, lock the door, return to the large map on the back wall and push ten countries in order; an essential step forward in my security. The wall hinges backwards, revealing the spiral staircase down to the vault, where my thinking world resides.